AND A. M. LEZHAVA*

April 18 [1921]

Recognizing as necessary to grant a certain independence to
Neftekom to exchange in Persia, Turkestan and Europe petroleum
products for articles of equipment [and] supplies for workers—
clothing and foodstuffs—I request that you provide your conclusion and
a coordinated draft resolution for tomorrow's session of the Council
of People's Commissars.

Chairman of the Council
of People's Commissars Lenin.

1 In a letter to L. B. Serebrovskii of April 2 (see p. 157 of this volume) Lenin raised
the question of independent exchange by Neftekom of petroleum for supply products
for workers of the oil fields. In a telegram of April 15, Serebrovskii requested: "Send
formal recognition of a certain independence of Neftekom to exchange in Persia,
Turkestan and Europe petroleum products for articles of equipment and supplies for
workers—clothing and foodstuffs."

On April 18, Lenin writes to A. N. Rykov, V. P. Milyutin and A. M. Lezhava the
present letter, and on April 19 the Council of People's Commissars appoints a
commission comprising A. N. Rykov, P. V. Stalin, A. M. Lezhava and others to
develop a draft resolution on the expansion of the competence of the Azerbaijani
Neftekom regarding exchange in Persia, Turkestan and Europe of oil products for
articles of supply.